Government extends Fruit & Vegetables in Schools Initiative

The Ministry of Health has confirmed the extension of the United Fresh-managed Fruit & Vegetables in Schools initiative now providing over 120,000 servings of fresh fruit and vegetables each school day nationwide.

This successful initiative has now been providing healthy food to low decile schools for over a decade and research shows it is highly valued by schools and is addressing real need in areas of high deprivation.

The contract will run for another 12 months while all Ministry-funded contracts go through a review process to ensure they are still relevant and are addressing equity.

Fruit & Vegetables in Schools is clearly helping to address equity in schools and is raising the consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables in over 100,000 children.

We look forward to sharing research into public opinion of this initiative later in the year.